The Jackal and Magic Man are prospects for the in-form stable of Omakau trainer Murray Hamilton at Wingatui tomorrow.
The track at Wingatui is rated heavy and both horses have last-start wins on heavy ground. The Jackal won at Gore on May 26. Magic Man won a maiden hurdles at Riverton on May 9.
Magic Man has won three races on the flat, including a 2000m at Gore. He is in a rating 70 2200m tomorrow. Daniel Bothamley, who rode the Danske gelding at Riverton, has retained the mount.
Hamilton took over The Jackal from Michael Pitman three months ago. They now race the 4yr-old in partnership. The Jackal had his other win at Greymouth in January last year when trained by Neill Ridley.
Hamilton has won 10 races this season, his best tally since he made the switch from training standardbreds about 10 years ago.
• Matamata trainer Lance Noble has been fined $6000 and $1550 in costs and First Date disqualified from her win at Rotorua in April after she tested positive to a prohibited substance, NZPA reports.
At a judicial committee hearing in Hamilton yesterday, Noble was found to be in breach of rule 804 (2) in that he presented First Date for a 3yr-old race at Rotorua on April 16 with a prohibited substance in her system.
Chief racecourse inspector John McKenzie said the substance was clembuterol, which is used to treat allergic respiratory disease in horses.
"The judicial committee accepted staff had inadvertently administered the drug to the horse, but Lance Noble in a professional manner took vicarious responsibility for it," McKenzie said.
Costs of $1000 were awarded to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and $550 to the Judicial Control Authority, along with B sample analysis costs which were yet to be advised.
Jockey Reon Aukett was disqualified for eight months after a positive drugs test to cannabis at trackwork at Riccarton on May 6.
Costs of $150 were awarded to NZTR and $200 to the JCA, and Aukett was required to undertake drug counselling.
• Jockey Jim Cassidy faces surgery on both knees and an ankle later this month in a bid to prolong his riding career, AAP reports.
The 47-year-old hoped the procedures - which include removing a pin from his right ankle - would extend his 32-year stint in the saddle by another 12 months.
"I want to get it done for two reasons," he said of his looming medical treatment.
"I found my next nice horse in a Redoute's Choice colt called Slater.
He's out of the VRC Oaks winner Special Harmony and I won on him at his debut at Canterbury a few weeks ago, and he's got that feel about him.."
Cassidy, who has ridden 85 group one winners, including Kiwi in the 1983 Melbourne Cup, said he had no regrets about his career, despite spending about six of the last 32 years on the sidelines through injury, disqualification or suspension.
Cassidy, who has suffered a horror run of injuries over the past few seasons, said he would wait until after the big group one day at Eagle Farm today week before the surgery and then take a two-month break before the spring carnival.
• Additional information for meetings today:
Auckland RC:
Riders:
Race 3: She Rules - A Calder.
Race 5: Keepa Cheval - T Thornton.
Scratchings:
Race 1: Elusive Chik .
Race 5: Cissy Bowen.
Race 8: Mochaccino Miss.
Race 9: Zlato.
Weather, fine; track, slow (7); rail out 3m.
Cambridge HRC:
Scratchings:
Race 1: Twist N Shout.
Race 2: Donaldson.
Race 3: Carabella.
Race 6: Malabar Mahal.
Race 7: Mighty Flying Thomas.
Race 8: Auditor General.
Race 9: Franco Hendrix.
Weather, overcast; track, fast.
Wanganui RC:
Riders:
Race 1: Right Royal Rose -B Lammas.
Race 4: Geminov - P Taylor.
Race 11: Sportsman - D Bradley.
Scratchings:
Race 1: Navigator.
Race 2: Princess Katie, Right Royal Rose.
Race 3: Ransom Rosie.
Race 4: Star Cat, Stormy Affair.
Race 5: Stark Justice.
Race 7: Leadership.
Race 11: Bally Magic.
Weather, fine; track, slow (8); rail, true.
